Chess Puzzle #3b3TF — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1216 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/e1; knight e5; pawns a3/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f5; rooks d8/f8; bishop c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd8 — queen d4→d8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen f5→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen f2→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/ppp3pp/2b5/4Nq2/3Q4/P1P5/1P4PP/3RR1K1 w - - 3 25

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.